Synthetic thread manufacturing apparatus



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. A. KuLJlAN f t 1 n SYNTHETIC THREAD MANUFACTURING APPARATUS Oct. 14, 1952 Filed Feb. 28, 1951 INVENTOR.

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Oct. 14, 1952 A KULJlAN 2,613,451

SYNTHETIC THREAD MANUFACTURING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 14, 1952 H, A, KULJIAN 2,613,451

SYNTHETIC THREAD MANUFACTURING APPARATUS FiledFeb. 28, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VHV TOR.

Patented Oct. 14, 1952 OFFICE SYNTHETIC THREAD MANUFACTURING APPARATUS Harry A. Kuljian, Merion, Pa.

Application February 28, 1951, Serial No. 213,146

(crei- 153) 18 Claims.

In the continuous process manufacture of thread from viscose, the freshly coagulated thread is iirst treated with various chemicals to 4complete its regeneration and to give it the desired finish and is then dried before being twisted and spooled. i

In cases where the thread is processed while it moves over a relatively large number of separated, independent thread storing and advancing reels or cages, the drying of the thread does -not present any problem andV any source of heat will do. This is due to the fact that thread can be passed over any desired number of heated reels or it can be passed through a drying chamber long enough to insure drying.

When, however, the freshly coagulated thread is to be completely processed and dried while it moves relatively rapidly over a single, relatively small thread advancing reel, adequate drying of the saturated thread presents a diicult problem.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to produce improved drying means for adequately drying a saturated thread while such thread moves through a relatively short zone near the discharge end of a relativelysmall thread storing and advancing reel.

A further object is to produce improved drying means which can be readily incorporated in a thread storing and advancing reel without increasing its over-all dimensions and without interfering with the operation of the reel. These and other objects are attained by my invention as set forth in the following specification and as shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is `a fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partlyin section, of a thread storing and advancing reel provided with a drier embodying my invention. g

Fig.` 2`is` a section taken on line 2 2 on Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the right hand end of the reel as viewed in Fig. 1.

Figji 'is a fragmentary top plan view showing details of construction.

Fig.. 5 is a fragmentary and elevational view showing a slightly modified construction.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6--6 on Fig. 5.

As will be seen from Fig. l, the thread I0 to be processed is wound about thel receiving end of a thread storing and advancing reel formed of a number of rolls, such as hollow rolls RI to R8 arranged in a circle about a center post I I. The center post is carried by a suitable support I2 which also carries an inner end housing I3in which is` enclosed an inner end plate I4. The

shafts I6 which carry rolls RI to R8 are provided, near their opposite ends, with self aligning bearings I5, and their opposite ends are carried by an inner end plate I4 and by an outer end plate II which will be hereinafter referred to. The rolls RI to R8 are rotated about their axes by means of a gear I9 which is driven by a motor M and which meshes with gears I8 on the ends of the rolls. The reel parts so far described form no part of the present invention and are therefore not shown nor described in detail. It is sufcient to say that, when the outer end plate Il, in which the outer ends of the rolls are journalled, is rotated relative to the xed end plate I4, the axes of the rolls will be skewed relative to the path of approach of the thread so that, when the rolls are rotated about their axes, the thread l0 will move, in the form of a helix circumscribing al1 of the rolls, from the receiving or left hand end, toward the right hand, or discharge, end of the reel.

As the thread I moves longitudinally of the reel, it is subjected to the action of regenerating and/or finishing liquids which are delivered to spaced zones alongthe reel through spaced, controlled nozzles N. The treatment of the thread with liquids also does not form part of the present invention and is therefore not shown nor described in detail. It is sufcient to point out that the liquid treatments stop at a point spaced from the right hand, or discharge end, of the reel to leave a zone Z in which the thread may be dried.

The center post II is made hollow and is provided with longitudinal slots 2U which are spaced to correspond to rolls RI to R8 and which are substantially `coextensive with the drying zone. Within the post I I there is provided a steam inlet pipe 22, connected, by means of a pipe PI, to a source of steam, not shown, and a return pipe 24 for delivering the exhausted steam or the condensate, through pipe P2, back to a boiler or to a.

point of disposal, also not shown. The left hand end of the post is connected, by means of a duct D, to a source of compressed air having a constant temperature and a constant humidity. Surrounding that portion of post I I which extends into the drying zone Z is a heat exchanger formed of a number of tubes 26 having heat exchange tins 28 for heating the air blown thereagainst through slots 20. k

The finned tubes 26 are heated by steam, under pressure, delivered from pipe 22 into a passage 36 formed in header 38 and communicating with pipes 4U located within tubes 26, as shown in Figs 1 and 2. The open ends of pipes 40 are located relatively close to the adjacent ends of tubes 26 so as to force the steam delivered through pipes 40 to flow in the opposite direction and thus produce a more even distribution of heat. The outer ends of tubes 26 communicate with a return passage 42 which leads, through passage 44, to return pipe 24 for removing exhausted steam, or condensate, from tubes 26.

In order to control the flow of the drying air, I provide horizontal bailles 46 which are secured at their outer ends to the header 38 and at their inner ends to a vertical baille 48 by means of screws 50. The baffles 46 taper from their outer towards their inner ends so as to produce an oppositely tapered opening or space 52. By this arrangement, the air which is conned between header 38 and baille 48 will flow out through openings 52 and because left hand ends of openings 52 are larger than their right hand ends, the volume of heated air will progressively decrease from left to right. Therefore, a large volume of heated-air will flow against. the saturated -lament as it enters the drying zone Z and a progressively smaller volume of air will flow againstthe filament ast progressively dries while moving toward the discharge end of the reel.

In order to insure uniform performance, the humidity, volume, velocity, and temperature of the air delivered` to the interior of center post Il are keptconstant "so that the drying potential of the air, will be a function of the heat input. It will be noted that the heated air blows against the adjacent portions of the4 rolls as Well as against the filament convolutions as they traverse the arcs subtended by the baffles 46. A thread passing through the drying zone will thus be dried by contact with the heated rolls and by the action of the heated air blown thereagainst. In practice, I have achieved satisfactory drying of textile fabrics on a reel about 28" long and about 16 in diameter with the dryingzone Z about 8 long. When heavy thread such as tire cord is to be dried, the effective length of the drying zone will be increased accordingly.

In the Vembodiment of Fig. 1, the headers 38 5' are secured to center post Il by bolt 54 and end plate Il is secured to header 38 by bolts 55. To skew, or to adjust the skew of, the rolls RI to R8, the hold 54, alone, is loosened whereupon the end plate Il, the header 38, the bailes 46, and the baffle 48 are all rotated as a unit in the desired direction. After the desired skewing of the rolls has been effected, bolt 54 is again tightened. In order to secure positive joint movement of parts 38, 26, 46 and 48, with end plate Il and thus maintain the relationships of these parts to each other and to the reel constant, one or more tie rods 58 are used to integrate these parts. The tie rods have their ends journalled in end plates i4 and Il and passthrough baille 48, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. v

In the embodiment of Figs. and 6, the header 38 is secured to center post l I by bolt yElLand end plate Il secured to header 38 by bolts 62 which pass through arcuate slots 64 provided in end plate Il'. To skew the rolls in this embodiment, bolts 62, alone, are loosened and end plate Il, alone, is rotated relative to header 38, center post Il and end plate i4. Because, in this embodiment, the header 38, tubes 26, baies 46 and baille 48, do not move vwith end plate Il, the tie rods 58 are disposed with.

'What I claim is:

Al. For use with a thread advancing and storing reel including spaced, axiallyfaligned first and second end plates, an elongated post extending between said end plate, and a plurality of spaced elongated rolls arranged about said post and having their ends journalled in said end plates, a. heat exchanger carried by said center post near said second end plate, means rotatably mounting said heat exchanger and said second end plate in relation to said post, and means for supplying a heated, lluid drying medium to said 4heat exchanger.

2. The structure recited in claim 1 in which said heat exchanger and said second end plate are independently rotatable relative to said post.

3. The structure recited in claim 1 said second end plate is rotatable relative to said heat exchanger and said post.

4. The structurev recited in claim l in which said heat exchanger includes a header, inlet means for delivering a fluid drying medium to said heat exchanger through said header, and outlet means for removing the spent drying medium from said header.

5. The structure recited in claim 4 in which the center post is hollow and in which the inlet and outlet means are in the nature of pipes disposed within said post and communicating with said heat exchanger through said header.

6. The structure recited in `claim 1 in which the center post is hollow and is adapted to receive air of a predetermined temperature, humidity and pressure and is provided with openings through which said air flows against said heat exchanger.

7. The structure recited in yclaim 1 ,in which the exchanger is in the nature of a number of elongated tubes positioned between and inwardly of said rolls.

8. The structure recited in claim 1 and a baille substantially parallel t0 said second end plate and located adjacent the inner vend of said heat exchanger.

9. The structure recited in claim 8 and elongated baflles located between, and inwardly of the outer peripheries of the rolls, and extending between said baflle and said second end plate.

10. The structure recited vin claim V9 in which said elongated baffles taper longitudinally with the wide ends thereof near said second end plate and with the narrow ends thereof near said baile.

ll. For use in a thread storing and advancing reel including a rst end plate, and a second end plate, a plurality of rolls disposed between, and having their opposite ends journalled in said end plates, a header located adjacent said rst end plate and having a first passage and a second passage formed therein, elongated heat exchange tubes disposed inwardly of said rolls and communicating with said rst passage, the other ends of said tubes being closed, a return pipe leading from said lirst passage, pipes leading from said second passage into said tubes, and an inlet pipe for delivering a fluid, heated, drying medium to said second passage.

12. The structure recited in claim 11, together with means rotatably mounting said rst end plate and means securing said rst end plate to said header.

13. The structure recited in claim 11 and a baille spaced inwardly from said header and disposed inwardly of, and transversely of the axes of said rolls for coniining the rheat of said exchange tubesvto space between said header and said baffle.

14. The yst'mtur'e recited in lclaim Vv13 and clon.-y

gated baies disposed between, and inwardly of the outer peripheries of the rolls, said bafes extending longitudinally of said rolls.

15. The structure recited in claim 4 in which said elongated baiiles taper in the direction of the axes of the rolls with the wide ends of said bales in the vicinity of said header. v

16. The structure recited in claim 11 and means for delivering air of a predetermined temperature and humidity to the exterior of said heat exchange tubes.

17. A thread storing and advancing reel including a i-lrst end plate, a second end plate, a hollow center post extending between said end plates, a plurality of spaced, elongated rolls arranged in a circle about said center post with their opposite ends journalled in said end plates, a header adjacent said rst end plate, heat exchange tubes communicating with said header and located between said center post and said rolls, means for delivering a heated iiud medium to the interior of said tubes, there being openings in said center post corresponding to said tubes for discharging air delivered into said center post radially against said heat exchange tubes. l

18. A thread advancing reel including spaced.

axially aligned end plates, a center post extending between said end plates, a plurality of elongated rolls extending longitudinally of, and arranged around, said center post with the opposite ends of said rolls journalled in said end plates, a header mounted on said center post adjacent one of said end plates, means rotatably mounting said one end plate on said center post, means securing said endplate to said header, a .rst pipe extending longitudinally of said center post and communicating with said header for delivering a heated iiuid medium to said header, a heat exchanger communicating with said header, and a second pipe extending longitudinally of said center post and communicating with said header for removing the exhausted iiuid medium.

HARRY A. KULJIAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ci this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,983,795 Furness Dec. 11, 1934 2,495,936 Kuljan Jan. 3l, 1950 

